Invigilating art timed exams: Information for teachers, exams officers and invigilators
09 January 2026
We've updated this blog for the June 2026 series onwards.
Karl Goodere-Dale, Art and Design Subject Advisor
January will see the release of the papers for the art and design externally set tasks and teachers are now starting to prepare their students for their GCSE and A Level art timed exams.
Although all the components for art and design qualifications are non-exam assessments and will be externally moderated, the timed element of the externally set task, often referred to as the ‘timed exam’, needs to comply with the JCQ Instructions for Conducting Examinations which are updated annually.
So, below are the key things you need to be aware of when organising and running art timed exams. For more information, see our web page and please read the JCQ guidelines.
When can we access the materials?
Teachers are not allowed to see the exam paper, or ‘pre-release materials’ until the official release date, when they are published on the Art and Design qualifications pages on our website, under the Assessment area. At the same time, the pre-release materials are available to download from the Assessment > NEA/Coursework section on Teach Cambridge too.
In the same location on Teach Cambridge, we will also publish a teacher-editable PowerPoint resource. We'll make this available a few days after the pre-release material has been published.
This release date applies across all the exam boards.
When should we schedule the supervised timed sessions?
When determining when to schedule the supervised timed sessions our tip is to work backwards from the mark submission date, factoring in:
- marking time
- students challenging their marks in line with the JCQ rule
- re-marking if challenged
- internal standardisation
Who can invigilate the timed exam?
The art and design teacher is able to act as the invigilator for the art exams. However, JCQ guidelines suggest additional invigilators should be used so the teacher is free to give technical assistance to individual students (see below). This makes sure that other students are always supervised.
The required ratio is one invigilator for each group of 30 candidates. However, for art timed exams JCQ suggests that the ratio of invigilator to candidate should be ‘20 candidates or fewer’ so this is something for you to consider within your school or college.
What about preparatory work?
Students may take any preparatory supporting studies, work journals, notes or sketches which they have produced into the exam room. These will be submitted for assessment along with the work produced during the timed exam. They may also take in anything they need to set up a still-life group.
Invigilators need to make sure any preparatory work a student brings into the exam room is their own work.
Students are not allowed to continue working on, or further develop, their preparatory work once the exams have started, as stated in the Art and Design specifications.
All preparatory work should be kept securely at the centre from the point of the first art exam period.
Is it exam conditions?
Art timed exams must be taken under formal examination conditions. However, students are allowed to move around as necessary. Students are not allowed to listen to music during the exam.
They are not allowed to communicate with each other. They should not ask for help from or give help to another student while they are in the examination room.
If using a computer then access to the internet must be monitored and restricted as necessary, including student access to cloud-based software such as Photoshop online.
You must remind students all the work they produce during the exam must be their own.
What support can invigilators provide?
Art invigilators are allowed to speak to students to provide technical assistance. This means helping students with processes, machinery or tools they require assistance with or the student is unable (perhaps for health and safety reasons) to do themselves.
This might mean sorting out a sewing machine, using a kiln, using dyes, sorting out computer problems plus replenishing materials: any job a technician would normally do as opposed to a teacher.
They must not give any help to students regarding the development of their work or give them any specific advice on what materials or media to use.
How should student work be kept?
As the timed exam will be held over a number of sessions, student work must be kept securely between sessions.
The work can be kept in the art room (in lots of cases it would need to be). The room must be kept locked between sessions and if other classes take place in the room then they must be fully supervised.
If candidates save their work using devices such as data sticks, these must be left in the exam room and centres should have a backup procedure in place in case the data stick becomes corrupted.
Students should not work on their pieces outside of the exam sessions.
Visiting moderation
For guidance on preparing for moderation please see our blog, which explains all you need to know about visiting moderation for Art and Design.
Stay connected
Share your thoughts in the comments below. If you have any questions, you can email us at art&design@ocr.org.uk or follow us @OCR_ArtDesign. You can also sign up to subject updates and receive email information about resources and support.
About the author
Before joining Cambridge OCR in September 2019, Karl taught creative subjects in both art and design technology for 12 years. With experience with a variety of roles in secondary schools, including as a head of department, he has a wealth of knowledge and experience in teaching creative subjects at GCSE, A Level and BTEC. He has also previously worked as one of our examiners.
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